Invasive Species: The Biggest Threat to Biodiversity?

Invasive Species: The Biggest Threat to Biodiversity?

Sunday, November 15, 2009

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Discover Life in America is inviting supporters and admirers of Great Smoky Mountain National Park to join them on December 9-12 for the annual All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) conference titled, "Invasive Species: The Biggest Threat to Biodiversity?"

DLIA will be holding the 2009 ATBI Conference this year in Gatlinburg, Tennessee at the Riverside Terrace Resort and Conference Center.

This year's conference will provide several informative activities for everyone, including:

* ATBI science talks
* Smokies' air quality update
* Smokies' save the Hemlocks update
* Silent and live auctions to raise funds to help support the Smokies' ATBI
* A nature photographer workshop
* A full day for Educators at all levels
* Workshops that include: GPS use session, Schoolyard ATBI, Grant writing, Lost proofing, Waterbears, How to write a NSF grant, Citizen Science, "Getting everyone Involved," and much, much more!
* Scientific poster sessions
* Fantastic field trips
* Keynote address and a reception with celebrated, invasive biologist, Dr. Daniel Simberloff
* Updates from ATBI's across the country
* The conference culminating event is "The Great Smoky Mountains Salamander Ball" at Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies!

The All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory is a unique ecological undertaking to find and document every species of life in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, from ferns and fungi to birds and beetles. The effort began in 1998 and is serving as a model for efforts to document the diversity of life throughout the nation, at other National Parks, State Parks, and in other preserves, large and small.

To date over 900 species have been identified that are new to science and over 6,400 species have been identified that are new records for the Smokies!

For a more detailed schedule; registration forms; or to volunteer, please click here.

Questions and/or to register for the conference, please contact Heather MacCulloch at 865-430-4756 or e-mail at heather@dlia.org.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, hiking gear store, and more.

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1st Annual Discover Biodiversity at LeConte Lodge

1st Annual Discover Biodiversity at LeConte Lodge

Sunday, July 12, 2009

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Discover Life in America (DLIA), the non-profit organization coordinating the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) in the Great Smoky Mountains, is sponsoring a guided overnight hike to Mt. LeConte on August 15 - 16.

The event will raise money for DLIA and the Smokies ATBI. Icluded in the package is a guided hike up the Alum Cave Trail, lunch on the trail, an evening sunset program at Cliff Top, a set of handmade DLIA notecards, and a night's stay at the LeConte Lodge which includes dinner and breakfast.

The trip is $295 per person. There will be shared sleeping arrangements at the Lodge; so bring a friend or you will definitely leave with a new one! Reservations are required and space is limited.

For more information, please click here (PDF), or call 865-430-4756 or email: heather@dlia.org

For more information on the Alum Cave Trail, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Day Hikers Store Quality gear and apparel from some of the best outdoor brands.

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DLIA 1st Annual Firefly Festival at the Happy Hiker

DLIA 1st Annual Firefly Festival at the Happy Hiker

Sunday, June 7, 2009

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Discover Life in America (DLIA) will be holding the 1st Annual Firefly Festival in the Smokies (PDF link for more info) this coming Friday, June 12, at the Happy Hiker in Gatlinburg.

The Firefly Festival offers a snapshot of the wondrous biodiversity found in the GreatSmoky Mountains.

The festival will include music, food & drink, an insect zoo, opportunities to ask questions of a firefly expert, meet a local nature author, children’s activities, and much more.

The Firefly Festival will be held from 10AM – 6PM in the Happy Hiker parking lot, located at 905 River Road in Gatlinburg.

For more information on the synchronous fireflies and a short video, please click here.


Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com Detailed information on trails in the Smoky Mountains; includes trail descriptions, key features, pictures, video, maps, elevation profiles, news, and more.

Smoky Mountain Cabins Check out our new page for cabin and chalet listings in the Smokies!

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Smoky Mountains: Extreme Ecological Diversity

Smoky Mountains: Extreme Ecological Diversity

Friday, August 15, 2008

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Most people familiar with the Smoky Mountains already know that the park has a very diverse ecosystem. However, the All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) study is proving that the Smokies are far more diverse than anyone ever thought.

As widely reported last month, the ATBI has already identified 16,570 species in the Smokies, including 6,129 species new to the park and 890 that are new to science.

The web site for Discover Life in America (DLIA), the non-profit organization coordinating the ATBI, reports that the study has already discovered 36 new species of lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), 23 species of hymenoptera (bees, wasps, ants, etc.), 57 fungi, 270 bacteria and 11 viruses – all new to science.

Additionally, the inventory has discovered seven birds previously unknown in the park. The only mammal to be documented as new to the park was the Evening Bat, which was first recorded in the park near Parson's Branch during the summer of 1999.

As I was perusing the web site my curiosity led me to see if the ATBI has found any evidence of mountain lions. Despite a few recent unconfirmed reports, the study has yet to find any evidence of the big cat in the Smokies.

Sightings of bald eagles have been well documented in the Smokies. In fact, they’ve been known to nest in the region. What surprised me, however, was the report of a few rare sightings of golden eagles in Cades Cove and along the AT.

Although the study is still in progress, it’s estimated that the ecosystem harbors as many as 100,000 different species.

Over the last ten years more than 1,000 scientists and students have been involved with the study. An additional 50,000 hours of volunteer time has been logged to help with the project as well.

The success of the project has created a bit of a problem for the ATBI. Additionally, there are an increasing number of national parks that are launching their own all-species inventories that’s resulting in a global shortage of taxonomists. The ATBI in the Smokies is trying to lure hard-to-get taxonomists with mini-grants as well as using the allure of being involved in the world’s premier species inventory.

With the study expected to take another 5 years, and with data and specimen analysis lasting many years thereafter, the ATBI will have to hope that scientists will consider the Smoky Mountains as the most prestigious option for pursuing their profession.

Jeff
HikingintheSmokys.com

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